Sleman Regent Approves Development of Pilot Inclusive Villages

Jakarta, Kartunet - The Sleman Regency Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation with Sasana Integrasi dan Advokasi Difabel (SIGAB) regarding the pilot inclusive village program on Wednesday (11/11) at the Sleman Regent's Official Residence Pendopo. This MoU will mark the beginning of the socialization of inclusive village development and the replication of the concept in other villages across Sleman Regency. SIGAB, a Yogyakarta-based advocacy organization for disability issues, supported by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (KemenkoPMK) through the Peduli Program, has been running the Pilot Inclusive Village (Rintisan Desa Inklusi) initiative since June 2015. This Pilot Inclusive Village initiative operates in eight villages in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Two villages are in Sleman Regency, namely Sendangtirto Village and Sendangadi Village, while six villages are in Kulon Progo Regency: Ngentakrejo, Wahyuharjo, Gulurejo, Jatirejo, Bumirejo, and Sidorejo Villages. The program, which commenced in June 2015, aims to promote social inclusion through the acceptance, involvement, and participation of persons with disabilities in community life. Beginning with regional mapping and assessing the conditions of persons with disabilities and villages in general, the RINDI Program continues to evolve beyond merely running a program, focusing more on a social movement for disability issues at the village level. This program involves disability activists in each pilot village who advocate for more inclusive village development by incorporating disability perspectives into the village policymaking process. Following a series of discussions, the Sleman Regency Government will widely replicate the concept of this Pilot Inclusive Village initiative. This MoU signing meeting marks the initial step for Sleman Regency and SIGAB to collaborate and simultaneously socialize the Pilot Inclusive Village initiative. The forum also served as an introduction of the Pilot Inclusive Village initiative to local government work units, while also encouraging a sharing forum among Sleman Regency policymakers.(DPM)